Without committing to spell out the number of seats the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies are likely to win in the May 16 Assembly election, party leader and Rajya Sabha member K. Kanimozhi said that they would form the government with ease.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, she said that since the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government had been in a ‘sleep’ mode for the last five years, people were angry. Promises to give freebies such as mobile phones would not work this time around as the people had understood that it was a ploy to woo voters. The DMK, on the contrary, had made only promises that could be delivered, she said.
Assuring that the DMK would usher in total prohibition, if elected to power, she said that maintenance of law and order, setting up of industries in each district and major issues such as retrieval of Katchatheevu and solution to fishermen’s woes would be given priority.
Rejecting opinion poll surveys, she said that after touring the State, she could see bright chances for the DMK to win. “We will win hands down, because the people are waiting for a change,” she said.
Though the Election Commission claimed to have strengthened its mechanism to prevent money distribution, she expressed concern over innovative ways adopted by the AIADMK.
On BJP’s tirade
When asked to comment on Bharatiya Janata Party’s tirade that the Dravidian parties, particularly the DMK, were responsible for ruining Tamil Nadu, Ms. Kanimozhi said that the fight was only between the DMK and the AIADMK. The BJP at the Centre, which had promised to do so many things, had done nothing in the last two years.
While answering with caution a question on corruption charges against some of the DMK leaders, she said that those accused in the 2G scam appeared in the courts for hearing regularly without adopting any delaying tactics. The outcome was expected shortly, she added.
Though the DMK was fully supportive to implementing one-third reservation for women, the fact remained that not many women came forward to contest. The DMK had, in fact, given chance to more women candidates to contest than any other party, Ms. Kanimozhi said.
